Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance says it will defy a court ruling that ordered it to urgently convene an extraordinary congress using party structures that existed in 2014.
High Court judge Edith Mushore on Wednesday ruled that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is in his position illegally, having been unconstitutionally appointed one of three co-vice presidents by the party’s late leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2016.
The judge said Tsvangirai violated the MDC constitution when he unilaterally appointed Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as vice presidents, in addition to Thokozani Khupe who had already been elected vice president at the party’s last elective congress held in 2014. At the time of Chamisa’s elevation, the party’s constitution recognised only one vice president.
Chamisa was further appointed party president following the 2018 death of Tsvangirai, resulting in a split of the party, with Khupe and her supporters retaining the original name of the organisation and Chamisa, Mudzuri and others forming the MDC Alliance and taking control of party assets.
Mushore declared null and void any decisions made by Chamisa since his ascendancy and ordered an extraordinary congress involving all those officials duly elected to leadership positions at the 2014 congress.
Some of these officials are no longer members of MDC Alliance and have gone on to form their own parties.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the party would not abide by Mushore’s directive but would proceed with its own elective congress that is set for May 24.
“We fundamentally disagree with the judgement. The choice of leaders of any political party, the world over, is the sole preserve of the members of that party,” Mafume said.
Chamisa is guaranteed of retaining his position at the congress after being unanimously elected by all of the party’s provinces.
JN/APA